Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Critics had pointed to it as an example of the apparent risks of relying on Chinese financing to build out infrastructure projects, though the extent of this being an issue is hotly debated among experts.—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026 But the extent of birth tourism – and its threat to national security – is hotly contested.—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026 As Spring springs into Summer, Hollywood hotly anticipates its biggest season when schools are closed and every day can be a See a Movie in a Theater day.—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 The program has been hotly debated in both houses since last summer, when Evers included a 10-year reauthorization in his budget.—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hotly
Word History
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of hotly was
before the 12th century